Sturridge confident of Mario connection

Balotelli notched his first Barclays Premier League strike for the club when he arrived in the right place at the right time to convert Adam Lallana's pass and seal a 3-2 victory against the Reds' top-four rivals.

For Sturridge, the game brought a first start since the reverse of the fixture against Spurs at White Hart Lane in August, and the forward provided an assist for Lazar Markovic's opener before being fouled for the penalty which Steven Gerrard calmly converted.

In the 74th minute, Sturridge made way for Balotelli - and when Jordon Ibe released Lallana with a clever through ball as the clock ticked down, the No.45 was left with a simple finish to send Anfield into ecstasy.

"It was important for Mario," Sturridge said. "He's been waiting for a while to break his duck and been working very hard in training, and now he has scored one in the league I am sure things will start to go his way now.

"It's not easy to settle into a new team, a new area, a new lifestyle, with different people around you and so on and so forth. People don't ever take that into account. I try to do my bit [to help him], although I'm not taking any credit for him scoring against Spurs - I'm just happy he did!

"Of course we can get a good understanding going. I'd say I can play with any player not just Mario. Whatever team the manager chooses to put out I will do my best, whoever I have a partnership with.

"I try to adapt to whoever I am playing with and bring out the best in each other, and we [me and Mario] click when we are playing together.

"With Mario I can move around and go into wide areas because I know he will occupy the centre-halves. It's different, you play differently with different players and I am sure we will strike up a partnership in the future, I have no doubts about that.

"I like playing with a partner, but I also like playing on my own. It is down to whatever the manager chooses but it is important, whoever I am playing with, to help them play well. It is not just about me trying to do what I do."

Sturridge's last start for the club prior to Tuesday, at White Hart Lane in August, saw him partner Balotelli from the off as Liverpool went about demolishing Mauricio Pochettino's side 3-0.

At Anfield this week, the No.15 found himself in different surrounds, playing through the middle of the attack in a 3-4-3 approach, flanked by Markovic and Philippe Coutinho, on the lookout for his every move.

"In the Tottenham game [in August] I played a little bit different to how I did on Tuesday night because I know how Coutinho plays and he likes to thread balls through so I have to play on the shoulder a bit more," explained the striker.

"Obviously I still have a few gears to go up, Tuesday was my first start for five months or so. It's just an opportunity to get the minutes under my belt."

Despite firing 24 goals last season to help Liverpool secure a return to Champions League football following a five-year absence, injury prevented Sturridge from partaking in any of the Reds' six group games in the competition this season.

However, having returned from a frustrating spell on the sidelines with a goal against West Ham United two weeks ago, the 25-year-old is determined to play a part in guiding the side to success in the remaining competitions.

"We also still have the Europa League and we're looking forward to hopefully getting back into the top four and the Champions League," he explained. "Then I will be able to play my part in the Champions League next season.

"There are a lot of twists and turns yet. Every game is a big one, it's a final for us, that's the truth of it. It is important for us to be in the top four and to win some silverware. If we can do that it will be a great achievement."